Super Bowl XLI: A Midwestern Showdown

Way to represent the heartland! Indianapolis and Chicago will square off in what we all hope to be an outstanding NFL Championship game. If it's half as exciting as the New England - Indianapolis game, we're in for something special. Even Chicago's rout of New Orleans was entertaining. Few things are more representative of January football than snow in Soldier Field. I'm pleased with the match-up this Super Bowl, as neither team has been to the big game recently, yet both have been the focus of so much media attention this season.

The big game is still two weeks away, so there's plenty of time to hear about the big storyline. As a matter of fact, ESPN will consist entirely of basketball and super bowl predictions and reports. Needless to say, it'll be a long fortnight. We'll hear all about how Chicago has an outstanding defense, though their biggest weakness this season has been their starting quarterback, Rex Grossman. Then we'll hear about how Peyton Manning has been so successful as an NFL QB, but has not led his team to the big game until now... I'm sure they'll mention the Colts' defense that was weak all season but stepped up to stop the running attacks of Baltimore and Kansas City, and then got the job done against the Pats. The sports pundits will probably even remind you that Jerome Bettis is from Detroit, in case you forgot.

I'm gonna go ahead and make a prediction for the game. After seeing both teams play today, I think the Bears are going to win it. Between Chicago's special teams and stellar defense, the Colts are going to have a real tough time getting the ball down the field. Grossman is about the only thing that could jeopardize the situation because he's been completely unpredictable. He's been hot and cold all season. If he plays mediocre or better, the Colts defense aren't going to be able to keep the Bears under 20 points, and so it'll be all on Peyton's shoulders- which will be crushed by Chicago's pass rush. Furthermore, the axiom states that "the best defense will beat the best offense."And that has pretty much held up, as far as I'm concerned.

Congrats to the Colts and Bears, as well as their loyal fans. Enjoy south Florida in the winter, I'm sure the weather is more accommodating than it is up here.